A fourth Atlantic rally has been launched: this one by the doyen of such events – Jimmy Cornell – who launched the first.

His latest event is called the Atlantic Odyssey: a new transatlantic rally for cruising sailors. Jimmy Cornell, the founder of the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), aims to return to the original spirit of the ARC, that of a non-competitive event for cruising sailors, with the emphasis on safety and the enjoyment of participation in an amateur event.
 
For the first time in a transatlantic event, participants will have a choice of departing and finishing ports as well as start dates:
Atlantic Odyssey I: 17 November 2013 from Arrecife, Lanzarote to Le Marin, Martinique. Or Atlantic Odyssey II: 12 January 2014 from Santa Cruz de la Palma to St George’s, Grenada.

The Atlantic Odyssey is sponsored by Puerto Calero Marinas, as well as local Canarian government and port authorities. In Lanzarote, the fleet will be hosted in their new venue, Marina Lanzarote, based in the island’s capital, Arrecife.

The marina will include a complete repair and service facility with two separate hoists; one of which, at 820 tonnes, will be largest of its kind in Spain. In La Palma, the boats will be docked in Marina La Palma close to the capital Santa Cruz.

For the inaugural event participants will pay an all-inclusive fee of 500 euros, regardless of the length of the boat or number of crew.Complimentary entries will be offered to families with children under 16 on board, and to other special cases. Participants in one of Jimmy Cornell’s previous round the world events will pay a reduced entry fee of 250 euros.

There will be further incentives for sailors joining the Atlantic Odyssey: complimentary docking fees for the week before the start, specially discounted fees for longer stays, reduced haulout fees, as well as discounted hotel rates for the families of participants.

Every boat will be equipped with a satellite tracking device so that the vessel’s location and progress can be followed on the website www.atlanticodyssey.org

The start of the Atlantic Odyssey I will mark the 20th anniversary of Lanzarote having been declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1993. The main objective of a biosphere reserve is to enable sustained economic development compatible with the conservation of natural resources, as in the case of Lanzarote.

To reflect those aims, the Atlantic Odyssey will have an important environmental dimension, participants being encouraged to take part in specific research projects during their transatlantic voyage.
The finish of Atlantic Odyssey II in Grenada will coincide with the spectacular celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of Grenada’s independence.

The Atlantic Odyssey is organized by Jimmy Cornell’s company Cornell Sailing. Anyone interested in joining the Atlantic Odyssey should send an email to info@atlanticodyssey.org or complete the registration form on www.atlanticodyssey.org/register